Aston Villa vs West Ham LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today

The Hammers consolidated their place inside the top four with a big win at Villa Park

Match Preview: Aston Villa vs West Ham on 31/10/2021

West Ham won 4-1 at Aston Villa to move into the top four in the Premier League and round off a wonderful week for David Moyes’ side.

The Hammers defeated London rivals Tottenham last weekend and reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with a penalty shoot-out victory against holders Manchester City, before putting 10-man Villa to the sword.

Villa boss Dean Smith will feel everything that could go wrong did go wrong as his team slipped to a fourth successive Premier League defeat.

Long-range strikes from Ben Johnson and Declan Rice saw Moyes’ men head into half-time in front, after Ollie Watkins had equalised for the hosts.

Ezri Konsa’s red card shortly after the break gave Villa an uphill task and further goals from Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen inside the final 10 minutes settled the contest. Follow all the reaction live below:

Aston Villa vs West Ham

• 7 mins: Johnson fires West Ham in front with low shot past Martinez
• 34 mins: Watkins steers Villa level from Buendia cut-back
• 39 mins: Rice beats Martinez from range to restore West Ham’s lead
• 51 mins: Villa reduced to 10 men after last-man Konsa is sent off for challenge on Bowen
• 81 mins: Fornals finishes off West Ham counter after Bowen’s shot is saved
• 84 mins: Bowen scores West Ham’s fourth to add to Villa’s misery

[31 October 2021 17:18 · Jamie Braidwood]

HALF TIME: Aston Villa 1-2 West Ham

There are a few mutterings of boos as the half time whistle sounds at Villa Park, as West Ham take a deserved lead into the break.

[31 October 2021 17:18 · Jamie Braidwood]

Aston Villa 1-2 West Ham

45 mins: Rice does well to flick a Buendia cross away from Cash, who was arriving in the box, before McGinn drags a shot wide of goal.

There will be two minutes of time added on at the end of the half.

[31 October 2021 17:16 · Jamie Braidwood]

Aston Villa 1-2 West Ham

43 mins: Rice’s strike has sucked the life out of Villa Park - the hosts were only level for a matter of minutes.

Watkins wins a corner on the left but Konsa is unable to direct his header back across goal.

[31 October 2021 17:14 · Jamie Braidwood]

Aston Villa 1-2 West Ham

41 mins: Chance for Villa as Targett finds McGinn with a cross from the left, but the midfielder's glancing header drifts wide of the far post.

[31 October 2021 17:09 · Jamie Braidwood]

GOAL! Aston Villa 1-2 West Ham (RICE 39’)

Rice restores Villa’s lead from range, but Martinez has to do better! The West Ham captain picks up the ball outside of the box and drills a bouncing shot into the far corner. It’s an accurate strike, but Martinez’s dive was late. The Villa goalkeeper is saying that he saw it late, but it’s another fine moment for Rice as West Ham retake the lead.

[31 October 2021 17:09 · Jamie Braidwood]

Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham

36 mins: West Ham immediately threaten as Antonio is released down the left, but his shot is deflected over the bar from the angle.

Bowen lashes a shot over the bar from the corner, while West Ham see appeals for a penalty following a shirt tug on Zouma waved away.

[31 October 2021 17:05 · Jamie Braidwood]

GOAL! Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham (WATKINS 34’)

Equaliser for Villa! McGinn plays a reverse pass to Buendia, who skips past Fornals on the right. He cuts is back to Watkins who is able to squeeze the ball under Fabianski from eight yards.

Villa really needed that, while West Ham will be disappointed with how easily Fornals was beaten by Buendia.

[31 October 2021 17:04 · Jamie Braidwood]

Aston Villa 0-1 West Ham

32 mins: Young reads Rice’s pass out wide and leads the Villa break before playing it on to Bailey, but his delivery into the box is poor and easily cleared by Soucek.

Bowen then gives the ball away after a loose switch of play, which is cut out by Cash. The Villa right back then blazes an effort over the bar.

[31 October 2021 17:02 · Jamie Braidwood]

Aston Villa 0-1 West Ham

30 mins: First uneasy moment for West Ham as Fabianski concedes a needless corner as he tried to pass the ball out from the back.

Bailey swings the ball into a crowded area in front of the goalkeeper, who redeems himself with a strong punch under pressure.

[31 October 2021 17:00 · Jamie Braidwood]

Aston Villa 0-1 West Ham

27 mins: West Ham are looking quite slick in the final third, with Fornals, Benrahma and Bowen all involved. They pick up a free kick following a foul on Benrahma, and Cresswell finds Antonio with a quick chip over the top. Antonio tried to head it on with his back to goal but Martinez was able to gather comfortably.